Children like to run around and winter puts an indoor cramp in their style. Dancing helps. Let the children tie on scarves or pillowcases around their necks; take off their shoes; push back the chairs; and dance. Name their moves: sharp, smooth, soft, jiggling, bumpy. Name where they move in space: up high, down low, bending, leaping, under and over. Teach them to FREEZE and UN-FREEZE. Count the beats. They are learning numbers and words and music while they are getting rid o

In Chicago we know it is winter because of hats, coats, boots and mittens. No one is allowed out of the house without them. Some children want to get dressed themselves. Others don’t care. Finding the second mitten gives a mom plenty of teaching time with “where” words. “Is your mitten under the stroller? In the back of the closet? Inside your pocket?” “Where” words are hard words to understand, so practice is good. There is also plenty of time to name the clothing and all t

What is a Winter Break? For a four year old, this is something to wonder about. Does winter break and fall into pieces like a glass on the floor? No, but that is a logical thought. Over the holidays, many schools have a Winter Break. A Winter Break is about time; it is not about falling apart. Little children don’t understand about time until they are nearly seven years old. But they need to hear parents and teachers talk about it. Time is complicated because it involves s

At our house, New Year’s Eve is Edie’s third birthday. When we talk about her birthday, Edie always thinks it will be tomorrow. Our new way of measuring when a birthday will happen is to say that Edie’s birthday comes after Carter’s birthday and before Clara’s birthday. She is beginning to understand before and after. Dinner comes before dessert. Edie goes to bed after she puts on her pajamas. For a few years, Edie can think that the whole world celebrates her birthday with f